PUTIN - We could not rescue them all. Forgive us.

Lenta.ru ^ | 10-25-02 | Putin

[MarMema]

Dear compatriots!

These days we have, together, gone through a terrible test. All our thoughts were with the hostages, in the hands of armed vermin. We hoped for the best outcome, but each of us understood, that it is necessary to be ready for the worst.

Today the rescue operation of this morning is done.
It was possible to do almost the impossible - to rescue the lives of hundreds, hundreds of people. We have proved, that Russia cannot be put on her knees.

But now I first of all want to address the families and relatives of those who were lost.

We could not rescue them all.

Forgive us.

Let the Memory of the victims unite us.

I thank all the citizens of Russia for their endurance and unity. Special gratitude to everyone who participated in the rescue operation. Special thanks to the employees of the special divisions who, without hesitation, risking their own lives, struggled for the rescue of the hostages.

We are grateful also to our friends all over the world, for their moral and practical support in our struggle against the same enemy. This enemy is strong and dangerous, brutal and severe. It is international terrorism. While it is not defeated, anywhere in the world, people can not feel safe.
But it should be defeated. And it will be defeated.

Today in the hospital I talked to one of victims. He said to me "It was not that terrible - there was a confidence among us, that the future of the terrorists is not enduring." And this is the truth. They do not have a future. We do.

[MarMema]

Ok, this is my rough translation with the help of some online translators. Forgive me any errors and all better speakers of Russian, feel free to correct me. As most oeople know, Russian doesn't translate all that well to English anyway. So some of this is rough, but I didn't want it to sound English, as it is Russian.

As a longtime fan of Putin, I loved this speech and wanted to share it, to the best of my ability, with other freepers.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Nicely done, I think!

Translation help ping!

Putin comes across as well, compassionate!

[lsee]

I'm sure those hostages understood that they were all targeted for death and that their survival would probably involve a dramatic rescue at a high cost to themselves. I'm relieved they were able to rescue so many of the hostages before the terrorists were able to blow up the building and kill them all..what a terrible thing to happen in any country...may all such terrorists be doomed to swift failure and death!

[Enterprise]

To have done nothing would have guaranteed the deaths of many more hostages. On Fox the other night a guest told of how the terrorists took one woman and broke all of fingers and then shot her in the stomach. These b##stards cannot be negotiated with, and upon capture they need to be summarily executed. The loss of the hostages is indeed tragic. The saving of the overwhelming majority of them is miraculous. The Russians had no other options.

[shattered]

Thank you for posting this. It is very obvious from reading his statement, that he knows that battle the world is up against in removing this evil from among us.

[LurkingSince'98]

Great Post! His remarks (even translated) are moving, you can feel his anguish come through. Reminds me of what "W" might have said, were he in the same position. Regards, Lurking

[M Kehoe]

OK, I never thought I'd say this, but...Bravo Zulu Ivan.

5.56mm

[Voltage]

Perhaps Putin will change his mind and help us regarding Iraq?

[ladyinred]

It seems to me you did an excellent job translating.
Prayers for the grieving in Russia. We certainly share in their mourning and detesting of the "vermin" who did this to innocents.

[windchime]

Thank you for posting, MarMema. The speech illustrates that Russia and Putin are WITH us and against the terrorists. President Bush was correct in recognizing Putin's strength of character.

The loss of some of the hostages is heartbreaking, but saving so many was an act of courage.

[debg]

thank you ( and all the others who freely gave of their time to translate and provide updates)

i lurked for the duration but i also shared the thread with my public high school students.

[McGavin999]

The real miracle is that in times such as these, God has given both Russia and the US leaders who are up to the task. It is a mercy of God that we should all be grateful for.

It IS a long road ahead, and it's a dangerous road, but if we stick together we will arrive at the end. The terrorists will not.

[Corporate Law]

Good speech. Great to see that they did rescue the majority of the hostages as I feared if it played out any longer, they all were going to die. It appears that the Al Quaida hostage playbook was unfolding up to the point where the Russians stormed the building.

[GOPJ]

Thank you, Putin, for a job well done You're a good man and a credit to your people. Our prayers are with you.

It was possible to do almost the impossible -- to rescue the lives of hundreds, hundreds of people. We have proved, that Russia cannot be put on her knees.

But now I first of all want to address the families and relatives of those who were lost.

We could not rescue them all.

[tictoc]

Thank you!

[weikel]

I love Putin now for every hostage killed they should retaliate against the chechens 100:1.

[nygoose]

I can't think of any time a US politician has ever asked the people of this country to forgive the Federal Government for anything that it did wrong. In fact, it never has admitted to doing anything wrong.

[Myrean]

Sorry that I have to be the voice of question here. I do agree that Putin did what he had to do here and it looks like they did a good job of rescuing their people.

But, I do not agree that this proves that Russia is with us and against the terrorists.

Russia is readying an alternate resolution for the UN Security Council which calls for no consequences for Iraq if they don't allow inspectors free access.

Putin is with us? I think not.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

I went to the Russian Embassy website hoping there would be a way to email them with my thanks for their timely effective action, but, alas, there was no email address.